Authorities halt search for missing Iowa teenager

The Associated Press

Authorities are halting their search for an Iowa teenager who was abducted more than a week ago.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday that investigators have exhausted their ground search efforts for 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard. Officials also say flooding has affected their efforts.

Officials have searched more than 250 square miles in the Dayton area, about 60 miles north Des Moines.

Police suspect Michael Klunder abducted Kathlynn and her 12-year-old friend on May 20 in Dayton. The younger girl was able to escape. Klunder was later found dead. Some of Kathlynn's blood was found last week, dampening hopes of finding her alive.

The announcement comes the same day Kathylnn's father asked Sen. Charles Grassley to support stricter sex-crime penalties. Michael Shepard argued it could have prevented her abduction.